Hallo from Brussels!

We're having a fabulous time in Belgium so far! We arrived yesterday early afternoon after a hellish 10+ hour flight (why must there always be an irritable toddler seated behind us on international flight?) and a 2 hour train ride from Amsterdam airport to Brussels.

Mark Wawrzyniak, a dear friend, is hosting us at his 'flat' (FYI, that's 'apartment' in Belgian). He had a fabulous lunch for us with cheese, meat, bread and lots of delicious beer. Mark W. did a blind taste-off of Rochefort 10 and Westvleteren 12-the Westy was a clear winner. After being awake for 36 hours straight, it was amazingly relaxing to lay in their backyard hammock under the sun. We went for a walk around Mark's neighborhood, which is near all of the EU embassies in downtown Brussels. We returned to Mark's flat even more exhausted and hungry for dinner-a plate of grilled meats and more....wait for it...BEER! We then slept the sleep of the dead for a solid 8 hours and woke up fresh as a daisy!

Today we rented a car in Brussels and drove out to Vleteren, home of Saint Sixtus Abbey, where monks make 'the world's best beer.' The beer was unbuyable today, but we were able to buy it on tap across the street at the bar/restaurant. I had a grilled ham and Monk cheese and Mark had a chicken jello sandwich. Yes, chicken suspended in gelatin. Horrifying and mesmerizing at the same time, he ate every bite.

We headed from Vleteren to Rodenbach brewery in Roeslare. Rodenbach makes phenomenal sour beers, and we got to tag along on a tour in Dutch. I thought after a few minutes, we'd be able to understand some of it, but Dutch is not easy on the ears. Still had a great time touring the old brewery and got a couple of delicious beers at the end of it.

Mark W. took us out to dinner on the Grand Place in Brussels for some traditional Flemish food, which involved frites and rabbit stew and...wait for it...BEER! We bought some Belgian chocolates on our way back to the flat, and stopped at a bar for chocolates and...wait for it...BEER!

Now we're back at the flat, getting ready to hit the sack and get up for another day of touring, this time in Bruges. Enjoy the pictures, and keep checking back for updates!